James Tatum Foundation for the Arts - Classical & Jazz Benefit Concert

With the permission of my former high school music teacher, I am honored to invite the DetroitYes! community to an evening of musical entertainment by the James Tatum Foundation For The Arts, Inc.

February 14, 2011

**********PRESS RELEASE**********

Contact: Antionette D. Griffith
griffithantionette at att.net

Ringing in the Silver Lining

Now in the 24th year, James Tatum Foundation for the Arts [[JTFA) is still going strong with helping Michigan youth explore the arts. The Foundation will celebrate its Pre-25th Silver Anniversary with a Classical & Jazz Benefit Concert starting at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 17 at Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward in Detroit.
For many years, founder James Tatum has diligently worked to keep his vision alive and the Orchestra Hall performance is sure to give its audience the answer as to why the James Tatum Foundation for the Arts continues to prosper.
Pianist Damon Gatewood, Harpist Allegra Lilly and Violinist Hadiya Knight are three special guest performing artists, who are recipients of the James Tatum Foundation for the Arts Scholarship. Their performances will resonate the true meaning of the Foundation’s mission….to receive and administer funds for providing educational opportunity and scholarship for talented youth.
“The arts and music are basic to life. The arts encourage self-discipline and persistence,” said James Tatum of Detroit, Founder and President of the James Tatum Foundation for the Arts. “Studying the arts help students to achieve academic discipline as well.”

Pianist Damon Gatewood is a 1989 graduate of Detroit Renaissance High School. He has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan. Gatewood currently teaches science and other subjects at Detroit Renaissance High School.
Harpist Allegra Lilly made her debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at age 12. She has since performed as a featured soloist with the Juilliard Orchestra, the National Repertory Orchestra, the International Symphony, and many Metropolitan Detroit Symphony Orchestras. Lilly completed her undergraduate studies with Nancy Allen in 2007 and obtained her Master of Music degree in 2009 from the Julliard School of Music. Her most recent appearances include performances with Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, AXIOM Chamber Ensemble and Rochester Symphony Orchestra.
Violinist Hadiya Knight, 13, of Detroit was the 2010 Millennium Prodigy Scholar of the James Tatum Foundation for the Arts Scholarship. She also received a full tuition scholarship from Alonza McKenzie’s In Accord Foundation to attend the 2010 Interlochen Summer Music Camp. Now in her fifth year at Macomb Christian Schools in Warren, Hadiya maintains a 3.925 grade point average and plans to attend Detroit Renaissance High School. Over the last four years, she has studied violin under the direction of Michelle A. May.

This program is dedicated to the late legendary Dr. Billy Taylor, jazz pianist, composer and educator and the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., jazz lover.

Jazz pianist, composer and recording artist James Tatum along with the James Tatum Trio Plus will perform two of his compositions, “The Great Detroit Renaissance” and “Jubilee Jazz Suite” featuring vocalist Jeanetta Carr, United Voices Detroit Youth Ensemble and Zone Dancers.
Come out to celebrate this great milestone with the Foundation. Tickets are $25 for main floor; $20 dress circle; $18 balcony; $15 seniors and students, and $75 box seats. Corporate sponsorships are welcomed and discount tickets are available.

For tickets or sponsorship information contact the James Tatum Foundation for the Arts by calling 313-255-9015, email clejam at sbcglobal.net or visit the website at www.jamestatumfoundation.com.
Please feel free to visit the James Tatum Foundation for the Arts on Facebook and view videos on Youtube.

The James Tatum Foundation for the Arts is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1987. The organization has awarded over $300,000 to Michigan high school graduates seeking higher education with majors in the performing and visual arts. Over 95% of past recipients are now professional educators or artists. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the JTFA Scholarship Fund.


I cannot figure out how to upload the actual flyer with the photos to this post! Sorry about that. :[[

PHOTOS: By Photographer Rogers W. Foster

Damon Gatewood
Allegra Lilly
Hadiya Knight
April 2010 “Jubilee Jazz Suite Performance at Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall
Dr. Billy Taylor, left, with James Tatum

Tickets on Sale Now!
Pre-25th Anniversary
Classical & Jazz
Benefit Concert

Sunday April 17, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall
[[Max M. Fisher Music Center)
3711 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan

Ticket Information

Regular Price - Main Floor $25.00
Discount Price - $20.00


Group Rate Main
Floor [[8 or more tickets) $17.00

Dress Circle $20.00
Discount Price - $18.00

Student /Senior $15.00

Balcony $18.00

For additional ticket information [[313)255-9015 Email: clejam at sbcglobal.net
Make check payable to James Tatum Foundation For The Arts, Inc.
Mail to: P. O. Box 32240, Detroit, Michigan 48232

[[JTFA, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501©[[3) organization. Proceeds to the
Scholarship program.

I have taken the liberty to adjust email addresses to reflect "at" as a replacement for the @ symbol so that the addresses do not get picked up by a spam program.

Let's do this for our community! Hope to see you there! :o

James Tatum [[a distant relative of the peerless Art) has been helping students since FOREVER. Always positive, energetic, willing to help. Thanks for everything, James, hope a lot of folks turn out for your 'do'...